I stumbled onto this note while checking advanced weapons..
"911 = false flag. WTC 7 was brought down by demolition. 47 floors came down in 6 1/2 seconds - not hit by a plane. Just one of hundreds of absurdities that occurred that day. Wake up".

I've had it since it was new, 30 years ago.
Have the entire set, all 3 barrels, the tripod, the Hensoldt scope, the custom case, the original test targets, all 3 mags, etc etc etc...

Yeah right, I'm getting rid of it on your opinion.

Hahahahahahahaha!!!1

You must have a very unusual PSG-1 to have interchangeable barrels.

__________________"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
"What we get away with isn't usually the same as what's good for us"
"An extended slide stop is the second most useless part you can put on a 1911"
"While Ruger DA revolvers may be built like a tank, they have the aesthetics of one also,
although I suppose there are a few tanks which I owe an apology to for that remark"

On topic, in CA, with all of the pending laws and BS, I think that the Garand is a very viable option. The M2 ball from the CMP is cheaper than you're going to find .308. I do LOVE the Mini G, and I will have one to go with my Garand within a year. I'm going to keep the original chambering of 7.62x63 aka .30-06 though.

I own a number of handguns, but I really need some rifles. I've thought about an AR, but I'm not sure if want to go that direction.

I'm very interested in a FAl or HK91 style rifle.

Are there others I should be looking at?

If you are looking for an M 14 type.

You might consider looking for the Polytech M14 Sporter and /or Norinco Sporters. Yes they are made in China but they have forged receivers were as Springfield has cast receivers, unless things have changed there. Many guys have picked them up and built match grade shooters out of them. They'll definately be less expensive than a SA rifle. Early ones may have had soft bolts, which some people had reheat treated others just picked up a spare M14 bolt and had it lapped in, once the original bolt went out of spec.

You can also pickup a Garand and just have it rebarreled to what you want.

However - light, quick, accurate enough to ding steel out far as you need to. And if ever the shtf; it's about as good a tool as you'll ever want/need...

Not a "battle" rifle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cantcme

308 saiga

Also not a "battle" rifle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aghauler

If you are looking for an M 14 type.

You might consider looking for the Polytech M14 Sporter and /or Norinco Sporters. Yes they are made in China but they have forged receivers were as Springfield has cast receivers, unless things have changed there. Many guys have picked them up and built match grade shooters out of them. They'll definately be less expensive than a SA rifle. Early ones may have had soft bolts, which some people had reheat treated others just picked up a spare M14 bolt and had it lapped in, once the original bolt went out of spec.

I have a PolyTech, lucky enough to find one modded by an AMU guy (who I fully vetted through a couple of my relatives). She came with a TRW bolt and U.S. trigger group (forgot the original maker). She shoots like a dream.

Unlike current Springfield guns, she's actually machined to the military drawings (less the fun switch), uses a beautiful forged receiver. Accurate as hell, as well as reliable.

Were it not for the current Springfield lifetime guarantee, they would have been out of business quite a while ago.

But the short-barreled guns do look "tactical".

I also have half a dozen FAL's, Free World's Right Arm. No issues with reliability, and I've taken an elk at 300 yards with no problems.

OT, in the late 1980's I did see a PSG1 at Bachman Pawn and Gun in Dallas. Factory fitted case, scope, all factory accessories. $7500 was the asking price...I coulda', I woulda', and I shoulda'. Very sorry I missed that one.

Let us know what you get.

-hanko

__________________"Tactical" is like boobs...you can sell anything with it....arfI see the gulf of Mexico
As tiny as a tear
The coast of California
Must be somewhere over here, over hereGreatful Dead“Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.”Mark Twain

I have always wanted an M1A scout squad. I even have legitimate pre-ban magazines for it.
I also do not have much interest in the AR platform. I like a traditional rifle grip so much better, especially living in the Peoples Republic of Kalifornia.
But I have decided not to pursue the M1A mostly for reasons of cost, and if I have to register it (SB 374), it kind of defeats the purpose of having it.
This pushed me to buy the Ruger GSR in Stainless, its fills every role that I need in a rifle except that of a true battle rifle. It is a SHTF rifle, a bug out rifle, a bug in rifle, a hunting rifle, a long range rifle, a durable low maintenance drag through the mud rifle, just not a combat oriented rifle.
However, even though I do not currently have a "battle rifle", I do not feel that I am under-gunned. As I do not see myself storming the streets and engaging in "battle" in a foreign invasion, or civil war. I have guns appropriate for any situation I could see myself needing one, with the exception of bugging out/hunting/backcountry camping in Alaska(,but that is next on the list.)
With that said, if I happen to come across a deal I couldn't pass up on a M1A, well... I probably wouldn't pass it up.

IMHO...
You are a nut if you don't get yourself an M1A!
You say you already have magazines so what the heeck is the problem???
The most accurate of the .308 battle rifles, with 20 rounds of detachable goodness.
Holy cow just go buy one and let tomorrow and its asinine assembly bills take care of itself.

Plus one.
or maybe go use the forum dedicated to state your PSG resides in.

Back to the OP. . .

Between the original holy Trinity of battle rifles I like the HK91 pattern the best, but it's probably because of fond memories of it from many many moons ago. I wouldn't cry over having a DSA FAL or USGI M1A either.

On topic, in CA, with all of the pending laws and BS, I think that the Garand is a very viable option. The M2 ball from the CMP is cheaper than you're going to find .308. I do LOVE the Mini G, and I will have one to go with my Garand within a year. I'm going to keep the original chambering of 7.62x63 aka .30-06 though.

Agreed. If one doesn't have prebans, a Garand is only at a 2 round disadvantage in CA, and clips are $1 vs $25 for M1A mags.
No detachable magazine is a benefit for a lot of people, IMO, especially in CA.
Plus, the looks, the history, the FEEL of the rifle, is amazing.
I actually prefer the Garand to the M1A. Following in Lone Gunman's footsteps

Got a Garand
Like it a lot
But I'll take an M1A ove it any day of the week
M1A is what the Garand should have been.

Naah, the M14 is the next iteration of JCG's masterpiece, the M1A is a commercial copy with an out of spec cast receiver, and metal injection molded parts. It continues to live on its past reputation, built when the only non USGI part was the receiver, but those days are long gone. If you can't find one from the '80s with all USGI parts you'd be better off getting a polytech and replacing the trigger group and bolt with USGI. At least the receiver will be forged and in spec.

EDIT: I've owned 2 M1As in my lifetime, a "Loaded" model with a stainless match grade barrel in the late '90's, and a Scout a couple years ago. Sold them both, but I don't think I'll ever sell my Garand. I'm not sure why, they just do it for me. If I ever really get a hankering for a mag fed Garand I'll just have Shuff's build one for me.

Boy, you guys make it sound like M1As are bountiful right now. Been searching for an M1A Scout Squad for a couple weeks now. Have yet to find one in stock. Called several LGS. One even laughed when I asked if in stock. I'm thinking I might have to bid on one of the Online Auctions...

One LGS said SA Factory is behind production by two years. Another told me one year back order...

__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by E Pluribus Unum

During Y2K my neighbor and I were talking and he said he had a basement full of water and canned food. He asked if I had stocked up and I said that I had. I told him I bought a 12 guage shotgun, a .308 rifle and several bricks of .22 ammo.

He is an anti-gun guy and he said. "Well, you can't eat ammunition". I replied with "When I'm starving to death with a case of ammunition, who's door do you think I am going to knock on?"

Get a FAL... There are some decent HK91 style rifles, but they are gong to be in the 2k range, decent FAL's are 1400 + . AR-10's can be good.

I'm sorry, but I've seen the opposite: I've seen PTR91 GI's being sold for $1050 at Turners this week. Also, I've seen a couple of PTR91 being sold for $1200 or less in the For Sale section. For FALs to be at that price range or less, they may be Entreprise (hit or miss) or Century (junk). The good ones like DSA or IMBEL are priced like you said $1400+.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalieracer

M1a's are good if you get a nice one like a Smith Enterprises.

or built on a LRB receiver, but they, like the Smith Enterprises, are beaucoup money, about as much as you can get a custom .308 AR or a LMT MWS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrPlink

Back to the OP. . .

Between the original holy Trinity of battle rifles I like the HK91 pattern the best, but it's probably because of fond memories of it from many many moons ago. I wouldn't cry over having a DSA FAL or USGI M1A either.

As mentioned, if you have the coin, dont miss out on the Scar17

I'm more of a FAL man, but when it comes to which one is the most affordable out of the box nowadays from that trinity, I feel the PTR91 (a G3/HK91 pattern rifle) the best bet. If the OP decides to go with the PTR, I recommend getting a port buffer (if he reloads, he'll appreciate it) and/or a heavy buffer (if he wants to have the recoil tamed).

In regards to the SCAR17, I agree, but like you said, if you got the coin or the "moolah".

Quote:

Originally Posted by -hanko

Unlike current Springfield guns, she's actually machined to the military drawings (less the fun switch), uses a beautiful forged receiver. Accurate as hell, as well as reliable.

Were it not for the current Springfield lifetime guarantee, they would have been out of business quite a while ago.

The older Springfield M1A's (possible before 2000) were still made with mil-spec parts. However, the thing that turns me off a little bit about their rifles (related to your description in the first paragraph) is that they have cast receivers instead of forged (PolyTech, Norinco, LRB and I think Smith Enterprises).

Quote:

Originally Posted by -hanko

I also have half a dozen FAL's, Free World's Right Arm. No issues with reliability, and I've taken an elk at 300 yards with no problems.

Like I mentioned, I am more of a FAL man, but nowadays, it's getting pricier either finding a good one (DSA or IMBEL receiver) or building one (parts kits are getting rarer and the best receivers like IMBEL getting pricier).

Boy, you guys make it sound like M1As are bountiful right now. Been searching for an M1A Scout Squad for a couple weeks now. Have yet to find one in stock. Called several LGS. One even laughed when I asked if in stock. I'm thinking I might have to bid on one of the Online Auctions...

One LGS said SA Factory is behind production by two years. Another told me one year back order...

Are you looking for a weapon that's new or used or either?

-hanko

__________________"Tactical" is like boobs...you can sell anything with it....arfI see the gulf of Mexico
As tiny as a tear
The coast of California
Must be somewhere over here, over hereGreatful Dead“Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.”Mark Twain

Except the issue is it's almost impossible to stop with one...my first was a DSA, then I built a carbine, a para, and on and on.

As to PTR's, CDNN has some this week for $999, which means if you can stand the standard Turner's idiots, it's a great deal.

I would not discount a Century or Entreprise FAL...once they run, they tend to keep running. If you have a non-runner, it can be a biatch to fix...the last 2 E'prises I repaired for friends required de-barreling and a milling machine to fix. One of the 2 also needed a bit of lathe time. E'prise historically has been, say, somewhat slow in fixing goofy guns they've made. How they get out the door without running a few mags through them fast escapes me.

Century's batch of Century-marked Imbel receivers were awesome. Their finished guns can be somewhat variable, but the bad one's I've worked with were better than Entreprise.

Advantage...should be significantly cheaper than DSA or a Franken-FAL built by a good builder with good parts. Downside...they tend not to appreciate as much as others.

If you're looking for an FAL, I would definitely check the Marketplace on the FAL Files first.

-hanko

__________________"Tactical" is like boobs...you can sell anything with it....arfI see the gulf of Mexico
As tiny as a tear
The coast of California
Must be somewhere over here, over hereGreatful Dead“Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.”Mark Twain

In general, I prefer new. Just me... However, I have purchased a few guns that were "Certified Pre-Owned." They were from gun enthusiasts who babied them...

__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by E Pluribus Unum

During Y2K my neighbor and I were talking and he said he had a basement full of water and canned food. He asked if I had stocked up and I said that I had. I told him I bought a 12 guage shotgun, a .308 rifle and several bricks of .22 ammo.

He is an anti-gun guy and he said. "Well, you can't eat ammunition". I replied with "When I'm starving to death with a case of ammunition, who's door do you think I am going to knock on?"